Advent, a four-week time of preparation before Christmas, begins the church year. For additional creative resources for individuals, families, and worship planners, visit Advent Unwrapped. The first Sunday in Advent often has a focus on Hope.
Worship Ideas
- Advent Candle Lighting: Bold Discipleship (91.69 KB) (Word): Candle-lighting liturgy that dares us to dream boldly.
- Advent Communion Liturgy (68.56 KB) (Word): All who seek to be nourished and sustained are welcome here.
- Candle-Lighting Liturgy (26.57 KB) (Word): An invitation to consider our world that God so loves beyond the familiar and engage with the non-familiar.
- Gathering Lectionary for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, December 3, 2023-January 28, 2024 (261.74 KB) (Word): Includes suggested readings, hymns, worship sparks, children's time ideas, sermon starters, etc.
- Hanging the Greens (39.92 KB) (Word): An Advent Unwrapped service to prepare church buildings and sanctuaries to be symbols of preparing ourselves for the birth and rebirth of Jesus.
- In the Rich Dark of Winter: An Advent Communion Service (235.68 KB) (PDF): Using expansive scriptural imagery, the theme of this Advent Unwrapped service is anticipating God’s fulfilled promise of the renewal of all things.
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (269.67 KB) (PDF): A one-rehearsal Advent Unwrapped pageant with the message "God is with us! We are not alone."
- The Days Are Surely Coming (25.2 KB) (Word): A service by Miriam Spies for the first Sunday of Advent, year C, and Disabilities Awareness Day.
Music
- Advent Intercultural Hymn Festival (219.55 KB) (PDF): These songs with accompanying commentary can be combined with seasonal prayers and scripture readings to create an Advent hymn festival. Please credit Bruce Harding for this resource and the music arrangements.
- Advent Prayer Song (SAB) (Nancy Chegus) (61.83 KB) (PDF): Short SAB piece (a cappella, optional piano) suitable for worship during Advent. Please credit the composer.
- Alleluia (SATB) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (418.48 KB) (PDF): Short SATB piece (a cappella, optional piano) suitable for worship during Advent or other times during the worship year. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
- As the Wind Blows (SA Anthem) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (2.55 MB) (PDF): “As the wind blows, as the seed grows, lifts its harvest to the sun…” Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
- Candle Burning (SATB Anthem) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (3.58 MB) (PDF): “We each are born with a candle burning. This is the flame that lights the way.” Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
- Sing Now Gloria (Unison) (Terry Macham) (85.52 KB) (PDF): Unison song suitable for worship during Advent. Lead sheet with melody, lyrics, and chord symbols. Text in English and Latin. Please credit the composer.
- The Giver (90.45 KB) (PDF): Written and composed by Mia Michelle McClain with the United Church of Christ and The United Church of Canada for Advent 2022.
- The Giver: Video: The United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ invite you to use this original song by Mia McClain as part of your Advent worship. Find the sheet music above.
- These Gifts We Bring (SATB) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (1.86 MB) (PDF): A short piece to follow the offering. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
- We Light This Candle (SATB) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (2 MB) (PDF): A piece for use during candle lighting for the four weeks of Advent. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
- When You Go from This Place (SSA / SAT) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (297.13 KB) (PDF): Short SAA (or SAT) piece with piano accompaniment suitable as a benediction during Advent or other times during the worship year. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
Related Material
- 2021 KAIROS Palestine Christmas Alert (1.37 MB) (PDF): A glimpse on Palestinians' life inside and outside Palestine and the unity in struggle, resistance, and hope.
- Acknowledging the Territory in Worship (170.12 KB) (PDF): A brief guide to help congregations and bodies of the church incorporate an Acknowledgement of Territory into their gatherings.
- Body Prayers (2.31 MB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped “action prayer” for each week of the Advent/Christmas season.
- Buy Less Shopping Guide (108.17 KB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped shopping guide for all ages for a Buy Less Christmas.
- Colouring Storybook (1.15 MB) (PDF): Actively explore the story of Christmas using this 17-page Advent Unwrapped colouring book.
- Family Prayers and Blessings (221.67 KB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped resource of traditional prayers and creative blessings.
- Story and Activity Cards (504.26 KB) (PDF): Meet the characters of the Christmas story, from Isaiah to the Holy Family, through these Advent Unwrapped cards. Includes activities for all ages.
- The Good News of Joy to the World (226.11 KB) (PDF): A five-session Advent Unwrapped Bible study on the Gospel of Luke by the Rev. Dr. Peggy Mulambya-Kabonde of The United Church of Zambia.
- The Good News Story (392.39 KB) (PDF): Four Advent Unwrapped Sunday school session outlines.
- Watching and Waiting: A Daily Vigil Based on the O Antiphons (628.25 KB) (PDF): Follow the ancient tradition of praying the “O Antiphons,” familiar from the carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” using this Advent Unwrapped resource. You can set aside nightly family prayer time for the last week of Advent or adapt this ritual in another way.
Worship Blog
Advent begins with Hope
Shanna Bernier shares the first of a series of Advent reflections, based on a young adult pilgrimage to Palestine and Israel.
Speaking of Darkness in Advent
Our ingrained notions of black/white and darkness/light as inherently good and evil can guide how we treat each other.
Unwrapping "The 'Huron' Carol"
We have received many comments and questions about whether or not to incorporate the “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” into Christmas carol services. Thanks to Dana Lynn Seaborn, of seabornsong.com, who offered us a helpful response to start the conversation… Read more
How Are You Getting Ready for Christ(mas)?
How are you getting ready for Christ(mas) this year?
If you are celebrating the Advent season as a family—or as an individual or an all-ages group of any kind—Advent Unwrapped offers an alternative to the advertisements, shopping lists, and hype that we are bombarded with at this time of… Read more
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